Rugby betting sites, including GGBet, are once again evaluating the potential candidates for overall top try-scorer at the worldwide competition as the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup pick up speed.
No less than seven players were tied for first place in the individual standings after the first weekend of the RWC with two tries each.
Four of these players were from Ireland; Bundee Aki, Jonathan Sexton, Peter O’Mahony, and Tadhg Beirne all scored twice in their team’s dominant 82-8 victory over Romania on September 9 in Bordeaux during a Pool B match.
Bundee Aki is Off to a Good Start
While Aki equaled this remarkable total as the Green Army defeated Tonga in Nantes last weekend with a score of 59-16, they had help from Sexton and Beirne, who both scored tries to move close behind their mercurial teammate in the try-scoring rankings.
Sexton is particularly hot right now because he hasn’t scored five points in any of his previous 21 international games and because he just returned from a protracted absence caused by both an injury and a suspension.
However, the South African combination of Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi, who both completed hat-tricks for the Springboks in their 76-0 annihilation of Romania last Sunday, have joined the Dubliner and his teammate Beirne on three tries for the competition.
Reinach’s total was especially astounding considering how quickly he amassed three tries—in just 23 minutes.
It is challenging to predict who will be the top try-scorer by the end of October because there are four pools with five teams each at the Rugby World Cup and many coaches like to rotate their packs early in the tournament.
However, that hasn’t stopped bookmakers from providing their thoughtful opinions on who would win this particular honor in the coming weeks.
Telea May Emerge Victorious in France
Mark Telea was rested for New Zealand‘s match against Namibia last Friday after tallying a brace in their 27-13 defeat of France on the first night of the competition (including the quickest try in a RWC opening match at just 91 seconds).
Even though the All Blacks won easily, 71-3, it is very possible that he will be brought back to the starting lineup for the much tougher match against Italy on September 29 in Lyon.
Telea, who has five tries after just six international test matches, is the betting favorite to score the most tries in the World Cup, with some sites offering odds as low as 7.0 on the possibility.
The Gap Between Aki and Penaud Keeps Getting Closer
Another Auckland-native is right behind Telea in the betting odds for leading try-scorer. Both players are from New Zealand.
It will be difficult for head coach Andy Farrell to leave the aforementioned Aki out of his first 15 players, despite the fact that Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose have recently established a strong center partnership at the provincial and international levels.
He has odds of 9.0 to score the most tries in the competition with four bookmakers, though somewhat longer odds of 11.0 are also available.
Damian Penaud of France was rested for France’s match against Uruguay last week, same like Telea was.
He is anticipated to be available for their match against Namibia on Thursday in Marseille. Given that Pool A’s bottom-dwelling team has already given up 18 tries in just two games at the RWC, the newly signed Bordeaux star could capitalize on the situation.
It will be a great surprise if he doesn’t increase his total in the next weeks of the tournament. His touchdown in the World Cup opener against New Zealand was his 30th in just 45 appearances for the All Blacks.
Although some are giving him 7.0 odds to be the leading try scorer, the most popular value on him is 10.0.
Reinach and Sexton are the Season’s Favorite Outsiders
Reinach and Sexton are considered outside bets to beat off all rivals and take the title of World Cup’s leading try-scorer despite now being one try behind Aki in the statistics.
Reinach is at 21.0 on different betting apps, although he is another South African player who is not guaranteed to play in the starting game against Ireland.
